At least 14 passengers travelling from Enugu State to Abuja have been abducted by suspected bandits in Benue State, triggering a fresh security operation to rescue those still being held captive.
The incident occurred on Thursday night along the Ankpechi–Omutele axis of Ohimini Local Government Area, where the commercial bus conveying the passengers was reportedly intercepted by the attackers.
According to reports, the passengers were travelling towards Abuja when the suspected bandits launched an ambush. The attackers allegedly forced the occupants out of the vehicle and marched them into the bush before abandoning the commercial bus on the road.
The development has raised fresh concerns over the safety of travellers using routes across Benue State, particularly in areas where criminal groups have previously targeted motorists and passengers.
The Benue State Police Command confirmed the incident on Friday, saying its personnel, working alongside other security agencies, had already begun a coordinated operation aimed at rescuing all the victims.
The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, disclosed that five of the abducted passengers had been successfully rescued during the operation.
Among those recovered was a four-year-old boy, whose presence among the victims has further heightened concern over the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Aondongu explained that security operatives moved into the area in the early hours of Friday after receiving information about the abduction. He said the rescue team encountered resistance from the suspected kidnappers, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
According to the police spokesman, the confrontation provided an opportunity for the operatives to reach and evacuate five of the victims from the kidnappers’ custody.
However, nine passengers were still being held by the attackers as of the time of the police update.
The Command said the search for the remaining victims was continuing, with security personnel intensifying efforts to locate the kidnappers’ hideout and secure the safe release of those in captivity.
“One of the rescued victims sustained a gunshot injury during the operation and was immediately taken to a medical facility in Otukpo, where he is receiving treatment,” Aondongu stated.
The injured victim was reportedly receiving medical attention following the rescue, while the other recovered passengers were secured by the authorities.
The police did not disclose the identities of the victims or provide further details about their condition, apparently to avoid compromising the ongoing operation.
Aondongu said the rescue mission was being conducted with caution because the safety of the abducted passengers remained the primary consideration.
He added that operatives of the Command were working closely with sister security agencies to track the perpetrators and recover the remaining nine passengers.
The latest incident has also renewed attention on the security challenges confronting travellers passing through some parts of Benue State.
The state has experienced attacks and abductions in different communities, with security agencies regularly carrying out operations to tackle criminal elements operating in remote areas.
For the families of the affected passengers, the rescue of five victims offers some relief, but anxiety remains over the fate of the nine people still in captivity.
The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, acknowledged the concerns generated by the incident and assured the victims’ families and members of the public that the command was committed to securing the safe release of those still being held.
Nwadiogbu said security agencies were putting concerted efforts into the rescue operation and urged residents not to take actions that could jeopardise the mission.
The police leadership also appealed to residents in Ohimini Local Government Area and neighbouring communities to remain alert and cooperate with security personnel working in the area.
Residents were particularly encouraged to provide credible and timely information about suspicious movements, abandoned camps or individuals whose activities could be connected to the abduction.
The Command maintained that useful information from members of the public could significantly assist security operatives in locating the remaining victims and apprehending those responsible for the attack.
The police also urged residents and travellers to remain calm, assuring them that efforts were being made to prevent the incident from escalating and to restore confidence among people using the route.
While the circumstances surrounding the attack are still being investigated, the abandoned commercial bus has provided investigators with a potential piece of evidence as they work to establish exactly how the passengers were intercepted.
Authorities are expected to continue searching the surrounding areas as part of efforts to determine the location of the kidnappers and secure the release of the remaining victims.
The Benue State Police Command said further information would be made available as developments emerge from the ongoing rescue operation.
For now, the immediate priority of the security agencies remains the safe recovery of the nine passengers still in captivity and the apprehension of those behind the attack.
The incident serves as another reminder of the security risks faced by road users in vulnerable areas and the need for travellers, local residents and security agencies to maintain close communication to prevent similar attacks.
